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As quickly as a specific motorbike turns into widespread amongst customizers, it turns into tougher and tougher to seek out clear examples of it. The Yamaha SR500 has been a darling of the {custom} scene since endlessly, and has been custom-made in each approach conceivable. You’ve obtained a greater probability of discovering one which’s had heinous work achieved to it, than a minty inventory one.
This shimmering Yamaha SR500 flat tracker was a “half-rate bobber factor” when Chad Daly first obtained his palms on it. So his first job was to undo among the earlier {custom} work, to make room for a much more tasteful set of mods.
Chad lives in Idaho, wrenching on bikes in his spare time underneath the moniker DGRS (Down Grade Race Techniques). He picked up the 1978-model SR500 intending to construct a flat observe race bike that would additionally rip round city. The trick was to make it aggressive, but in addition embrace the naked requirements to make it street-legal.
Reversing the prevailing bobber job meant utterly redesigning the rear finish of the bike. Chad hacked off the ‘bobbed’ subframe, then modified a Yamaha XS650 rear loop to exchange it and welded it in place. The remainder of the body was de-tabbed and tidied up.
A shortened and braced XS650 swingarm sits decrease down, put in with stainless-steel needle bearings. Chad tuned a pair of Öhlins shocks to prop up the rear, then fabricated new higher shock mounts, in order that he might dial within the rear geometry.
Showa forks do obligation up entrance, held in place by aluminum triple bushes from Cognito Moto. The forks profit from Race Tech fork cartridges, progressive springs, custom-made reducing spacers, and 3D-printed fork guards. Different front-end upgrades embrace new sealed steering stem bearings from All Balls and a Kedo steering damper.
Chad ditched the SR500’s clunky wheels and laced up a brand new set of 19s. They use Excel rims and Buchanan’s spokes, with a Kawasaki KX250 hub on the again, and a Moose Racing KX250-specific hub up entrance.
Since it is a flat tracker, it runs with no entrance brake; the rear brake makes use of a Brembo caliper and grasp cylinder, with a PSR fluid reservoir and a Goodridge stainless-steel line. The rear brake disc sits on an aluminum spacer that Chad solid himself. (Chad’s day job is within the metalworking trade, so he’s well-versed within the artwork of fabricating and sand-casting components.)
Gopher Glass in Minnesota provided the fiberglass flat observe bodywork. The tank, tail, and aspect covers all connect to the bike with DZUS quarter-turn fasteners, by way of {custom} mounting tabs that Chad added. The bike will be stripped down in a jiffy, and there’s a Leatherman multi-tool stashed underneath the seat in case of emergencies.
Chad’s huge on 3D printing, so he leaned into the expertise to create lots of the SR500’s smaller components. The rear internal fender and license plate mount, and the engine case guard, had been printed utilizing a versatile TPU materials. The taillight housing was 3D printed utilizing ABS plastic, with a solid resin lens that bears Chad’s DGRS brand.
Tasty off-the-shelf components and delicate {custom} touches are sprinkled all through the construct. The cockpit wears ProTaper handlebars, and a RunLeader tach and hour meter on a hand-crafted bracket. ODI Vans x Cult grips adorn the bars, with Johnson Rubber pegs mounted on {custom} plates decrease down.
The engine’s clear sufficient to make even essentially the most essential basic bike restorer gush. It breathes in by a Mikuni flatslide carb, and out by a Cerakoted header and a Supertrapp muffler. Heavy-duty clutch springs from EBC add to the SR’s confirmed reliability.
A Professional Comp headlight sits quietly under the entrance quantity board. It, and the taillight, will be eliminated in seconds when Chad takes the bike to the observe.
The skid plate and oil cooler are from MotoLanna, and the twin oil supply system comes from Kedo. The fuel and oil caps are tidy aluminum objects, with a temperature gauge embedded within the latter. Chad constructed the folding gear and brake levers himself then completed the bike off with a full set of titanium fasteners from Race Tech.
The bike’s completed in a sensational monochrome livery, with simply the correct quantity of flake added to it, and gold particulars to make it pop. Chad did the paintwork himself however outsourced the powder-coating of the body and the seat upholstery. These had been dealt with by Palmers Powders and Resurrection Upholstery respectively, whereas the quantity board graphics got here from MXNumbers.com.
Chad’s Yamaha SR500 flat tracker seems sharp as heck, and is reportedly simply nearly as good to trip. Plus we’re giving him additional credit score for bringing a sketchy {custom} job again from the brink.
Chad Daly Instagram | Photographs by Bryan Wooden
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